With only one of the top five teams in the country playing an official game last weekend, Wisconsin and Miami held onto their spots at the top of Monday’s USCHO.com/CSTV Networks poll heading into the holiday break.
The Badgers garnered 33 of 40 first-place votes to hold down the No. 1 position once again, while the RedHawks earned six first-place votes and finished second. Wisconsin beat the U.S. Under-18 team 6-5 in an exhibition contest Friday, while Miami was idle.
Moving up to No. 3 was Minnesota, with Boston College following in fourth place and claiming the poll’s remaining first-place vote.
Both teams were off last weekend, and both leapfrogged No. 5 Vermont, which dropped two spots after losing 2-1 to St. Lawrence on Saturday.
Positions six through 10 were identical to last Monday’s poll. Michigan (idle), Colorado College (beat Alaska-Anchorage twice on the road), Cornell (idle), Maine (idle) and North Dakota (swept Bemidji State in a home-and-home) held down those slots.
No. 11 was again Colgate, followed by St. Lawrence, which climbed three spots after its win over Vermont. Denver was No. 13 after sweeping Minnesota-Duluth; the Pioneers were followed in the rankings by New Hampshire and Clarkson.
Harvard fell two places to No. 16 after losing to Dartmouth Friday, with Providence coming in at No. 17 and Lake Superior State No. 18 in the wake of a split with Notre Dame.
Ohio State reentered the poll at No. 19 this week, replacing Bemidji State. Boston University rounded out the poll.
